Erdaulet TULEKOV: “An MBA is not a diploma. This is a new level of thinking."

Why did the head of KTZ choose Shakarim University?

This year the first graduation of the MBA program took place at Shakarim University. One of its graduates was Erdaulet Myrzakanuly Tulekov, head of KTZ-Freight Transportation in the East Kazakhstan and Abay regions.

More than twenty years of professional journey behind me.

Born in Shymkent, grew up in Taraz, graduated from the Kazakh University of Railways in Almaty, began his career as an assistant train engineer at the Almaty-2 station, went through all stages of professional growth - from working positions to management positions. Received two higher educations in the areas of “Transportation Organization” and “Oil and Gas Business”, worked in various regions of Kazakhstan and abroad.

It would seem that the person has already established himself as a leader. Why does he need an MBA?

According to Erdaulet Tulekov, today this is required by the very speed of change.

- A modern leader can no longer rely only on accumulated experience. The world is changing too quickly. Technologies, economics, logistics, and approaches to people management are changing. Therefore, a leader must constantly learn. Not because he lacks knowledge, but because new challenges appear that he needs to be able to respond to.

Professional activities introduced him to Shakarim University.

Several years ago, Erdaulet Myrzakanuly was invited to chair the state certification commission for the educational program “Logistics”. It was then that he first saw the university not from the outside, but from the inside.

- I met the teachers, saw the level of preparation of the students, and the university’s approach to teaching. That’s when I realized that they really train modern specialists here. It was after this that I had the idea to continue my studies at Shakarim University.

This decision became conscious.

Erdaulet Tulekov completed his MBA program with the highest results.

- I received the maximum final grade. And today I can honestly say: my MBA diploma is the best recommendation to the university. I recommend Shakarim University to my colleagues and managers who want to develop further

According to the graduate, the main value of the MBA program lies not only in new knowledge.

It changes the very approach to management.

-Today, a manager must see not only his area of ​​work. He must understand the organization's strategy, process economics, risk management, human capital, digital transformation. This is exactly what an MBA teaches you - to think more broadly, make better decisions and look at the organization as a single system.

During the graduation ceremony, the rector of the university, Duman Orynbekov, noted that Shakarim University is confidently strengthening its position in the international educational space: the university is among the best universities in the world according to the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, is represented in 15 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals and is among the top ten universities in Kazakhstan in terms of sustainable development indicators.

According to Erdaulet Tulekov, such results are important not only for the university itself.

- When a university occupies high positions in international rankings, this indicates the quality of the educational environment, scientific work, international cooperation and the level of training of graduates. This is a serious indicator for an employer. Today, a university diploma becomes part of a person’s professional reputation

However, the graduate is convinced that no rating in itself makes a specialist a professional.

The foundation is laid by personal qualities. Persistence. Responsibility. Desire to constantly learn. Love for your work.

These principles were formed by his parents, colleagues and especially his grandfather, Kurmanbek Tulekov, who devoted his entire life to the railway. It was he who taught his grandson the most important rule.

Keep learning.

Once upon a time, my grandfather spent his first scholarship not on purchases, but on books. For this, in his native village they gave him the nickname “Kitap.”

Today this family tradition is continued by his grandson, Erdaulet, who convinces:

- Don’t chase material wealth. Pursue knowledge. Money can be earned. You can get the position. But it is knowledge that allows a person to move on, make the right decisions and remain in demand in the profession. You need to learn all your life

The history of the first MBA graduate of Shakarim University is just beginning.

But today its main value lies in the fact that behind the diplomas there are people who make management decisions every day and are responsible for the development of industries, enterprises and regions.

That is why an MBA today is not just another level of education.

This is an investment in the quality of management, in the development of organizations and in the future of the country's economy.

What does Shakarim University wish for its MBA graduate?

Shakarim University wishes its first MBA graduates to never rest on their laurels. Let this diploma become not the result of training, but a starting point for new management decisions, professional victories and large-scale projects.

A modern leader is a person who not only effectively manages processes, but is also able to see the future, unite people, accept responsibility and create change. We are confident that the knowledge gained at the university will become a solid foundation for achieving the most ambitious goals.

Let every new professional challenge open up new opportunities, and let the desire for knowledge, leadership and development remain your main competitive advantage. We are proud that the first MBA graduates of Shakarim University are already shaping the future of their organizations, regions and the entire country. And among them is the top manager of the national company JSC NC Kazakhstan Temir Zholy - Erdaulet Myrzakanuly Tulekov.